Graham Condon Leisure Centre
Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 3:57 pm
Press Release: Christchurch City Council
19 September 2007
City Council unveils plans for the
Graham Condon Leisure Centre
Christchurch City Council
today (Wednesday, 19 September) unveiled plans for the
Graham Condon Leisure Centre at Papanui.
Councillor
Condon, who was tragically killed in a cycling accident
earlier this month, served on the Shirley-Papanui Community
Board for three years before being elected as a Christchurch
City Councillor for the ward in 1998 where the first of
three new aquatic facilities for Christchurch will be built
next year.
Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore says it is a
fitting tribute to Councillor Condon that the new facility
will be named the Graham Condon Leisure Centre.
"Graham
was crippled by Polio as a child but had a determination to
succeed. From a young age he turned his energies to sport
and was a natural athlete, making his mark in the discus and
pentathlon and representing New Zealand internationally for
more than two decades.
"He set seven world, Olympic and
Commonwealth records and seven national records, winning 36
international medals in total."
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Mr Moore says after retirement from competitive sport,
Graham shifted his drive to being an advocate for other
sportspeople and one of his greatest legacies was the
rebuilding of QEII. "I am proud that we are naming this
new aquatic and recreation facility at Papanui after a
councillor who gave so much to his community and in
recognition of his work in encouraging and helping other
sportspeople to achieve their full potential."
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The new
Graham Condon Leisure Centre is the first partnership
aquatic facility to be built by Council. Construction of the
new pool and recreation complex will be on land owned by
Papanui High School, with financial support from the school
and adjacent Northlands Shopping Centre. Council will
contribute $8.5 million to the facility.
"This is an
important partnership which will greatly benefit the local
community. It will provide Papanui with a
leisure/entertainment hub at the heart of the community and
a world-class aquatic facility for school and community use.
This is a tremendous win-win situation for the whole
community.
"Partnerships have been identified as a key to
the success of implementing the Council's Aquatic Facilities
Plan - the first city-wide plan to strategically develop new
aquatic facilities during the next 30 years."
Construction
of the new aquatic facility will begin mid next year and
take 10 months to complete. The facility is expected to open
mid to late 2009. It will boast a six-lane, 25-metre indoor
pool, spa pool, learners' pool, separate toddlers' pool with
wet deck, 300sqm sports hall and a gymnasium.
Papanui High
School principal Denis Pyatt says the Graham Condon Leisure
Centre is another great example of collaboration by
business, the school and Council in creating a wonderful new
facility for the local community.
"The school, Northlands
and Council have always worked together to develop this
area. It has been a win-win situation for everyone involved;
each development building on creating Northlands as a lively
centre and hub for the North Christchurch community."
Mr
Pyatt says the new aquatic and recreation facility cements
Northlands position as the heart of the community. "It opens
up the school to the community and provides a significant
development available for use by Papanui High School,
primary and intermediate schools in the area and the
community.
"It is great to be able to work in co-operation
to get for our community this great new facility."
Kiwi
Income Property Trust, the owner of the Northlands Shopping
Centre, is pleased to support the construction and
development of the Graham Condon Leisure Centre, says Chief
Executive of the Manager of the Trust Angus
McNaughton.
"Northlands has served the people of Papanui
and the wider region for many years and this project will
provide the local community with a much needed sports
facility.
"It is also fitting that the aquatic and
recreation centre has been named after Councillor Condon who
was an outstanding community leader and a strong advocate
for this project," Mr McNaughton
says.
ENDS
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